The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-28
THE NATIONAL DRILL.
Great Enthusiasm Over the Compe-
titIons-A Crowd Of $4,000
People Present.

WASHINGTON, May 27.-The fourth day OF
the national drill was ushered in by fair
weather, and when at o'clock the Indianap-
oils Light Infantry filed into the grounds
fully 5000 people greeted them with applause
| The indianapolis boys were followed by the
Alexandria Light Infantry and the Jackson
Mich, Rifles next, and they were well re-
ceived. The Moline Rifles of Brooklyn fol-
| lowed. The Belknap Rifles of San Antonio,
| Texas, captured the hearts OF the large audi
ence This company went through the diff
cult military evolutions, with such precision
that each movement drew forth loud ap-
plause. In the manual of arms the company
appeared the nearest of any in attaining ap-
apparent perfection exhibited by the Toledo
Cadets yesterday.
ed at the arsenal this morning, with firing at
800 and 600 yard ranges, There were origi-
nal entries from % States. Thirty EIGHT
competitors qualified at the short ranges and
completed the full score. The first prize was
Light Infantry Corps The highest possible
score was 200.
Between 230 and o'clock, the competitive
battalion drill took place, in which the Fifth
Rhode Island, the Louisville Legion and the
Washington Light Infantry (96 men each)
participated. During the drill of the Rhode
Islanders, rain storm drove the spectators
Tor the second time, to shelter. The men on
parade paid no attention. BY far the most
entertaining feature of the days pageantry
was the individual competitive drill, con-
Quoted on the country spelling match princi-
pie, which came next after the battalion
competition. Sixty competitors were select
ed. The men, two from each company, were
welcomed with cheers as ther drew up in line
before the judges marquee. At the very
outset the line was broken by the judges, who
retired eight men for failure to place their
pieces against their toes at "order arms"
Tho drill was exceedingly severe. -Four keen
eyed officers were on the lookout for errors.
Traps and pitfalls were set for the un-
wary and the orders came thicker and more
abruptly as the work went on. The excite
ment rose to fever heat when only four men
were left standing, to three of whom prizes
must fall. Belknap, o Rifeman. was the
lrst to go down, and the final struggle lay
between San Antonio Rifleman, Wash
mgton Light Infantry man, and a sergeant
OF the Louisville Legion.
The eyes of the judges detected petty mis-
takes on the part of the two latter and they
directed the Texan to step forward as the
winner OF the first prize. The victors in the
contest are; Private III. G. Staacke, San An
tonic Rifles; Charles T. Conrad, Company b,
W Washington Light Infantry Sergeant J. p.
Wagner, Company A, Louisville Legion.
The Milwaukee Light Battery, Captain j.
B. Oliver, consisting of 20 young men in blue
trousers, dark blue colors, decorated with
garnet braid and gold and garnet caps, gave
fine exhibition of sabre drill A cOncourse
consisting of fully 1900 people gathered to
witness the closing pageant of the day, the
dress parade of the Virginia Brigade, COM
manded by General Anderson.